Graded Cards Not PSA
DaveSpiwak
Posts: 38 ✭✭
There are a ton of cards for sale on eBay and other places that are graded by firms other than PSA. Most notably is Beckett, but there are lots of other more obscure ones as well. I can’t help but wonder what the people are thinking who are paying to have their cards graded by firms other than PSA. A Beckett 9.5 appears to generally get about 70 cents on the dollar versus a PSA 10.
These collectors/dealers have to realize they are going to have a discount card if it’s non-PSA. Are all these people just too impatient to endure the wait time of PSA? Do they think they’re going to get the elusive Beckett 10 pristine or something? Why would anyone in their right mind submit a potentially valuable card to a non-PSA grading firm?
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those cards have been out there for a while. until recently, beckett was the go to for modern. psa was vintage and sgc for pre-war.
beckett has all but run itself into the ground. the modern tide has shifted.
however, if anything, psa best be on the lookout from one of these newer kids on the block vs bgs or sgc.
i always forget to check pms. hit me over the head.
PSA set registry and rewards has a lot to do with the premium IMO. BGS has a very strong customer base. Better looking cases and sub grades are some reasons I hear. And for awhile BGS was the only place to get a dual auto/card grade. And almost everyone who collected cards pre eBay completed price analysis, has heard of Beckett. PSA 10s compared to BGS 9.5, PSA is known to be a higher grading standard. But IMO if I were buying either 9s to me mint is mint.
PSA isn’t always best. I had a recent experience with an oddball vintage issue that PSA had zero idea what to do with. I realized after the fact that their grades for this item were all over the place; zero consistency whatsoever. So I cracked out and sent to SGC and was thrilled with the (fair) result.
I also prefer the look and quality of the SGC slab. I can’t stand how cards slide around in PSA slabs. It looks sloppy and can damage cards. SGC customizes the matting to fit the card, making for a more secure fit. Not to mention the issue I just posted about in another discussion: some sort of bubbling effect with the new sleeves PSA is using for undersized items. It looks like garbage, which affects market value.
Also, if you’re flipping, the wait time means lost money. In some cases it might be worth taking 70 cents to the dollar if you’re able to flip two, even three times in the time it takes to get a card back from Newport Beach.
So, yeah, ceteris paribus I’d probably always go with a PSA 7 over an SGC 7 or BVG 7. And I continue to send higher-dollar items there, when it’s worth it to pay a premium for quick turn around. But what about a PSA 4 or 5 versus an SGC 7? Then it’s a no-brainer the other way.
It’s just not as simple as PSA > everything else no matter what.
Definitely personal preference goes into it. I had BVG grade a ton of stuff early on. But I just personally don't like their slabs - too big and bulky. Add in the set registry, which helped give my collecting a little direction, plus the premium PSA garners, and I'm happy(ish) with them overall.
Selling off all my Beckett. I have a few SGC and others with cards I know wouldn't cross over. So better to just leave those as is.
I really like those new colorful HGA slabs.
I think CSG is gonna be the only newcomer that holds some comparative weight when it comes to value, consistency and background. they have an impressive portfolio of collectibles that they grade and have become an industry standard in those fields. they may not take the number one spot from PSA, but I think they will hold a decent 3rd position in time.
myslabs.to/smzcards
I have seen and been picking up more than a few mislabeled psa cards - particularly 1998 donruss collections - check the set if you want to know what they are - but short example - 1998 donruss collections jeter (version of 1998 donruss preferred) labeled as donruss preferred - or prized collections (VERY limited subset of 1998 donruss collections) labeled as regular donruss collections....so no one perfect....
but I think that PSA has created a crack for someone doing something different to step right in - very interested in HGA......
I'm considering trying out one of the newer guys for some of my vintage cards that I've always wanted to have graded. Their grading fees seem reasonable, turnaround times look good (at least what is stated on their site), and they have a track record of doing well in other collectibles they grade. These are mid-grade cards that I just want encased and graded by a reputable service (that I think has the potential to become a Top-3 Service).
Always an observation, but comparing "like" grades pricing across companies is always a bad idea.
For example....a PSA 9 will generally always sell for more than a BGS 9, BUT what are the chances that the BGS 9 card would reside in a PSA 9 holder? It would likely (not always) get a PSA 8 and at that point, the card in the BGS 9 holder is more valuable due to grade it gets, but not due to the company.
With the extended times for grading, I have considered using CSG for some of the marginal cards just to test the waters on them. However, for higher quality cards, I would always use PSA for those and BGS for things I just basically want authenticated.
ive cracked out a fair share of BGS 9's and they came back PSA 10's. it was usually due to the BGS centering grade of 8.5 that got the lower BGS grade.
myslabs.to/smzcards
For most of the first decade of this century as I recall BGS held the advantage in max resale value. Back then there were many BGS9.5's that were quite a bit more $ than PSA10's. I recall for many cards "settling" for a PSA10 as the BGS9.5 were too high in going rate. Example; I paid $40 (including shipping!) for my PSA10 1992 Bowman Mariano, as I did not want to shell out $75-100 for the BGS9.5. Boy have times changed.
Luckily for many cards I did purchase both PSA10s and BGS9.5s and for the ones I did not the most valuable is only a Sabathia Bowman Chrome rookie - so in scheme of things very lucky for me at least currently.
BGS over the years has in effect put on clinic of what not to do to stay on top and confound collectors+dealers allowing PSA to clearly regain it's King status regardless of issuing era of the card. However PSA has duplicated some of BGS' mistakes and regardless of reasons is not winning anyone over with their recent attitude and nonchalance in price increases as well as what some may consider dubious conflict of interest practices. Details aside the bottom line is they do have competition and defending ones throne is not easy. Mistakes during times one is riding high may end up causing one to begin riding into sunset at a later date.
Case/Slab note: BGS card cases as well as SGC to me definitely have a nice heft and feel not that that means anything. PSA Pack slabs are almost a thing of beauty. I've had the plastic on GAI pack holders start to crumble...That won't happen to the PSA's !
Unless otherwise specified my posts represent only my opinion, not fact.
i like bgs 9.5 w 3 9.5s and a 9 on the surface. most of the time it's a single swipe of a fingerprint or something. then it 10s.
i always forget to check pms. hit me over the head.
I seek out BGS's that are only .5 away from the next grade up. For instance, a BGS 9 with 2 9's and 2 9.5's, or an 8.5 with 2 8.5's and 2 9's. Especially if the lower grade is for centering, as 60/40 would be a 9 for BGS while it can be a 10 with PSA.
I agree.. won't use them but they should be sustainable..
Serious Competition is good for consumers I do hope CSG succeeds the better they do they better all collectors do.
I'm thinking about sending some Comic Book related non-sports to them. Seems like a natural match, given CGC for Comics, and given the latest round of price increases appears to me PSA is no longer interested in grading/slabbing lower value non-sports.
Unless otherwise specified my posts represent only my opinion, not fact.
what about bgs 10's or sgc 100's vs psa 10?
I was thinking of doing the same. Many of my childhood comic cards are starting to see an increase in value. I looked into CGC but I am not sure they grade these cards yet.
Here's an obscure one for you out of my Don Mossi collection. It's just as beautiful as Don himself.
LSPA Grading.
And don't everyone flood my PM as this is not for sale.
Jeff
Miscut Museum
My Mess
early marvel cards are getting crazy. good thing about it, is there's no cracking those boxes either. tried several years ago back when they were $10. every single one regardless of source was bricked beyond belief!
i always forget to check pms. hit me over the head.
Has anyone used CSG? Just wondering on turn around times...website says not guaranteed.